Nasturtiums — Tip Top Alaska Mix

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Tropaeolum majus. Tip Top Alaska mix Nasturtium seeds produce cream-on-green foliage with single yellow, orange, and deep red flowers, clustered in compact 30cm (12") mounds. Tip Top Alaska series will stay compact so they are perfectly suited to containers. Plant Tip Top Alaska mix Nasturtium seeds in hanging baskets, raised beds, or as companion plants in your organic vegetable garden. These compact Nasturtiums are very bushy, and do not form the long vines found in some other varieties. The foliage is extremely decorative, and the flowers, leaves, and seeds are all edible. Nasturtiums are drought resistant and suitable for xeriscaping.

Annual

Quick Facts:

Hardy annual
Yellow, orange, and deep red flowers
Compact 30cm (12") mounds
Cream on green foliage
Single flowers cluster

Size: 5g (approx. 45 seeds)

Difficulty
Easy

Season & Zone
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Timing
Sow indoors in peat or coir pots 2-4 weeks before the last frost date. Better yet, direct sow from 1 week after last frost and repeat at 2 week intervals into early summer. Optimal soil temperature for germination: 12-18°C (55-65°F). Seeds will sprout in 7-12 days, perhaps longer outdoors.

Starting
Sow seeds 5mm – 1cm (¼”-½”) deep. If starting indoors, provide darkness during germination, followed by bright light. Space smaller varieties 15-30cm (6-12″) apart, and the big ones like Tall Single 60-90cm (24-36″) apart.

Growing

Nasturtiums thrive in poor to average, slightly acidic, well-drained soil. Keep watered during dry weather, and do not fertilize. If aphids infest nasturtiums, cut off the infested growing tip and destroy it. Otherwise, a quick jet of water from the hose will dislodge and kill aphids.

Companion Planting

Nasturtiums make a good trap crop for aphids, and they deter whiteflies, cucumber beetles, and attract predatory insects. It is a good companion for Brassicas, cucumbers, melons, radishes, and tomatoes.